Wednesday, December 7, 2016

Hi everyone I want to share some of my Christmas decor I have in my home this year. I decided to change up my colour scheme this year to a white Christmas tree with Mint, Pink and Red decorations.

First I want to share my Joy vignette I created using some Heidi Swapp Marquee Love letters and glitter and Holiday Wall shapes.

I added some wood grain paper inside my 12 inch letter J found exclusive to Michaels stores as well as the pretty mint bulbs. Next I added that gorgeous deer head to a wreath I found at a local craft store. I added some mint ribbon and wooden bead tassels to accentuate the deer. For the "Y" I found a wooden letter at Spotlight. I glittered it up with some of the the Heidi Swapp Marquee Love pink glitter. I then assembled all my letters and other pieces from my Christmas collection to create my vignette.

I have been dreaming of a white Christmas tree for a few years and this year we finally got one. I have decorated it with a beautiful fresh colour scheme of Pink, Mint and Red which suits our Australian Summer perfectly!

I added in that beautiful Heidi Swapp Believe chipboard word that was initially covered in gold glitter paper but i wanted to change it up. I painted over the glitter paper with mint paint and once dry I covered it with some of the Heidi Swapp Mint Glitter. I

Next I covered more the Christmas collection chipboard , this time with Pink Marquee Love glitter.

Finally I want to show you how I introduced our Elf On the Shelf this year. I used my Heidi Swapp Mini lightbox and Elf icons to send my boys his first message. They were so excited!

Monday, December 5, 2016

I love this time of year! A time to celebrate with the people that you love. For me it's also a time to give gifts that are meaningful and from the heart. Along with the gifts I love to make my own cards. It just adds the perfect personal touch when giving a gift.
Today I want to share 3 different cards using the DIY Gift Wrap collection. I started with some of my favorite pieces from the collection -stamps, ink, paint, paper, ribbon & embellishments plus some coloured cardstock that matches my Christmas decor this year( mint, pink and red) and got to work.

For my first card I created some ombre Christmas trees using the foam tree stamp and red and white paint from the collection.

For this card I began with the Tree Foam stamp and the red and white paint. I mixed a small amount of pink paint using the red and white until I got the desired color.

Next I used a make up wedge to apply some white paint to the tip, then the pink paint to the rest of the tree and a smidge of red paint to the trunk. Only a small amount of paint is needed on the foam to stop it slipping around as you stamp.

Finally I stamped the stamp onto my cardstock using a slight rocking motion to make sure I got an even coverage of the paint. I Continued applying the ombre paint onto my stamp and stamped each tree across the width of my cardstock.

I completed my card by adding a punched star to one of the trees and using the Merry Stamp from the collection to create a simple banner.

For my next card I used the Mini Wreaths from the collection as a focal point for my card. I wrapped some of the red velvet trim ( also from the collection) around the wreath and trimmed it with my scissors. I then added a red brad from my stash to hold the ribbon together.

I then used the Believe wooden stamp and red ink to stamp on to the DIY banner and then adhered it to the wreath.

For my last card I wanted a tone on tone effect so I used the Joy wooden stamp and the red ink to stamp on some red cardstock. I love the subtle pattern that is created with this technique.

I completed my card by wrapping some of the red and white trim from the collection around the cardstock then layered the clear star embellishment over the white and gold circle tag and tied it around the bow.

There you go. 3 quick and easy but beautiful Christmas cards that I know you will just love making and more importantly giving!
I really hope you will try out these fun and easy techniques.
All items shown are from the Heidi Swapp DIY Gift Wrap Collection available at select Jo-Ann stores and online & independent retailers

Sunday, November 27, 2016

I love December ! I love the magic of the season and all that it brings to my family and I. For the last few years I have documented our stories during the month of December and this year is no exception. This year I have chosen to record our memories in the new Tall Black and White Insta Love stripe album available now at Michaels. What is so great about this album is that it comes with both paper and vellum pages which allows for pretty layering of photos and embellishments.

Today I want to share with your my whole month of pages that are ready to add my photos and journaling. I am so pleased that I am ready to go. It is actually a freeing feeling. Working full time as a teacher and a busy mum my memory keeping time is precious but now I have made my December memory keeping just that little bit more easier with my pages ready to go.

I adorned the front cover of my album with this darling wood veneer stag head that I found at a local craft store here in Brisbane.

I painted my deer head with the Metallic paint and once dry adhered it to the front cover and added one of my fabric bows from my stash.

To add the ribbon to my album so I can tie it up, I taped down the end of the ribbon to the inside front and back covers. I then trimmed some black Bazzill cardstock to size and adhered it over the ribbon. Now the ribbon is secured and you would never know it wasn't there in the first place.

The first page opens to that vellum page with the gold foiled words.

I added my 2016 title page with a fun photo shoot and my Lightbox. I used some of the new Christmas icons and slides to create my Lightbox title then laid it down on a long piece of white paper. I took some photos and edited them in my software. I printed out the photo on to full size photo paper then trimmed the photo the same size as the pages in the album. Finally I marked holes to match the holes on the pages, I used my small hole punch to punch the holes, then I cut slits into the holes then pushed the photo onto the spiral binding to create a new page in the album.

I added my reason why on the next page.

I used my We R Memory Keepers Typeface typewriter to add my journalling onto some white cardstock then trimmed and added it onto my page and added some washi to embellish.

For day 1 I used one of the Instax filler cards for my journaling spot ( It is not adhered down atm so I can run it through my Typewriter once day 1 is done)! I layered over a wood veneer word from my stash over one of the Water Color Numbers found in the Gallery Wall collection also available at Michaels.

More Filler cards in a grid design waiting for my Instax photos for Day 2. I then did some stamping on the vellum page using my vintage Heidi stamps and Staz on Ink!

Day 3 consists of layered washi from the grey Washi pack and stamping as well as another water color number and a die cut word from my stash.

For day 4 I cut that cute deer head using a We R Memory Keepers die then layered it over another Instax filler card which I clipped to the top of my page. I added one of the sheer stickers that also comes in the Filler cards pack.

More stamping and washi over a filler card and that silver number form my stash. I clipped the card to the side of my page.

For day 6 I used some of the water color letters to create the word then layered over another die cut word from my stash.

I adhered only the bottom of the frame so I will still be able to slip my photo under the frame.

For day 8 I added a baggie from my stash directly to the page and layered some die cut words with glitter paper. I then added more stamping to the vellum page.

Another die cut deer for day 9 using some glitter paper and I clipped that Instax filler card to the side ready to add my journaling.

I created my own paper pieced Christmas tree for day 10 then added another of the filler cards utilizing the clip from the previous page.

I used some of the gold Art Screen ink and map Art screen on day 11 and then typed out the words "Joy To The World" on my typewriter and layered it over my Silver numbers from my stash.

Another frame from the Filler kit for day 12.

I got this cutie patootie wood veneer elf from a local craft store here in Brisbane and I adhered him to my page. I added some coordinating thread to make him "hanging there" and added another of the sheer stickers from the Filler pack to coordinate.

Simple layered filler card, washi and die cut number for day 14.

I trimmed a die cut I cut with my Silhouette cameo to fit the width of my page and layered some washi and numbers to complete my day 15.

Another filler card with layers combined with punched stars and numbers. I love the dream big washi I stretched across the bottom the page for another pop of gold. Then more stamping on the vellum page.

Day 17, simplicity with die cut words and numbers.

For day 18 I adhered one of the filler cards with washi at the top of the card to allow it to flip up.

I asked my eldest who is quite the artist to draw me a picture to add into my album.

I trimmed his page to size then added the page into my album using the same technique as described earlier.

More washi and glitter shapes for day 20.

Here I clipped another of the filler cards to the top of the next page and stapled a clear die cut from my stash.

For day 22 I dug into my vintage stash and used one of those frame water color shapes to house that glitter die cut word.

I trimmed a We R Memory Keeper postcard for my page and added it with washi to my page to allow it to lift up so I can extra photos and or journaling to day 23.

My last page I decided to create a double page spread because Christmas Eve is usually a big one in our house. On the left I used another of the Instax filler cards clipped on with a decorative paper clip. On the right I added more stamping with vintage stamps and a flair from my stash.

I cannot wait for the first of December! Our Elf on the shelf will arrive, we will decorate the tree and we will spend all month as a family creating Christmas memories! Lucky for me I can capture all these memories in my album. Bring it on!